The University of British Columbia
PA-8: Affordability and Access

The University provides needs-based financial support to enable students to commence or continue their students at the University. If an eligible student and their family have exhausted the financial resources available to them, the University will ensure that financial support will be made available to them as part of the University Bursary Program. For students in eligible programs, bursaries cover the portion of an eligible student’s assessed financial need that is not met by government student loans and grants, scholarships, and/or external bursaries. Access to the University is covered by Policy 72: http://universitycounsel.ubc.ca/files/2011/10/policy72.pdf In partnership with the World University Service of Canada, the University participates in the WUSC Student Refugee Program. The program enables student refugees to come to the University to continue their studies. Through an agreement with Citizenship and Immigration Canada, these students are eligible to resettle here in Canada as landed agreements. The University provides bursary funds sufficient to cover the cost of the student’s tuition, student fees, and book costs. First year students receive a living allowance to cover housing and meals. There are also subsidized bus passes and financial hardship subsidies available to offset the cost of student fees.

Enrolment Service Professionals (ESPs) are a specialized advising service for all UBC students. ESPs provide students with professional advice and support across all areas of UBC Enrolment Services, including financial planning and available student financial support. ESPs are a first point of contact for students and help with anything from paying tuition or making a budget to requesting a transcript or changing a program. They help students navigate University policies and processes and offer support and advocacy to students in need.

Enrolment Services Professionals (ESPs) offer outreach presentations regarding financial literacy to targeted groups on and off campus. They also work closely with high school counsellors in order to effectively reach students who may not have considered higher education for financial reasons. Through recruitment events, ESPs advise high school students directly and highlight the financial realities of post-secondary education and the many resources available. Once at the University, all students will have access to personalized financial advising from their own ESP, who is available to help them access resources and support on and off campus.

The University Entrance Award program was established to financially support academically qualified students who show an interest in joining the UBC community, but who would not otherwise be able to do so without significant financial assistance. One-time awards and renewable awards of up to $40,000 are available to enable this opportunity. Once on campus, students have access to the specialized support of their ESPs in order to help them through the transition from secondary school to university. There are also many additional awards available to continuing students that have been established to specifically support students with financial need.

Information on loans, assistance, and work programs is available online at: http://you.ubc.ca/tuition-scholarships/loans-assistance/?pageID=1109.

Enrolment Services Professionals and Student Recruiter-Advisors provide information across Canada to prospective students regarding University programs and services, including specific information regarding financial need-based support and academic scholarships.

Information on loans, assistance, and work programs is available online at: http://you.ubc.ca/tuition-scholarships/loans-assistance/?pageID=1109.

Other financial aid policies and programs include: STUDENT LOAN ADMINISTRATION ASSISTANCE The University’s Enrolment Services office assists in the administration of each province's student loan program, as well as the United States' Direct Loan program, and provides direct support to students regarding student loan eligibility and application. In addition, the University is represented and sits on the National Advisory Group on Student Financial Assistance (NAGSFA), as well as the BC StudentAid Policy Working Group (BCSAPWG) to review/develop and discuss federal and provincial Canadian student loan policies with the aim to remove financial barriers for low and middle-income students and their families, while focusing on student welfare. GENERAL BURSARY PROGRAM The University’s General Bursary program is designed to help fill students' "unmet need", which is the gap between the assessed cost of attendance and available government assistance, with non-repayable financial support. EMERGENCY BURSARIES The University offers emergency bursaries to those students who find themselves in an emergency situation or faced with an unexpected expense. UNIVERSITY LOANS AND ADVANCES Under certain circumstances, advances may be available to students who require immediate funding but whose student loans have not yet been released to them. In addition, it may be possible to receive a university loan for those students in financial need. University loans require a guarantor (co-signer). AFFILIATION BURSARIES Non-repayable bursaries are available to students who demonstrate financial need and have a connection to a specific club, company, or geographical region. WORK LEARN The Work Learn Program supports and subsidizes meaningful work experiences on campus that offer the opportunity for all current University students to develop professional skills and learn in a work environment. From these experiences, students gain mentorship opportunities, an expanded network, ownership and responsibility of work, self-awareness and reflection, the chance to apply knowledge in practical settings, and to contribute to personal learning goals and to the University in a different way.

YOUTH IN CARE TUITION WAIVER The full cost of tuition for a first undergraduate degree is waived for eligible students who were formerly youth in care of the B.C. Ministry. The purpose of this waiver is to reduce the financial cost of post-secondary education for youth aging out of care who might not otherwise be able to attend university.

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR WOMEN IN PART-TIME STUDY Academic awards for women enrolled in less than 80% of a full-time course load.

CHILD CARE SERVICES Child Care Services operates licensed group care for children, infant to school age, as well as a preschool program and independent kindergarten. Their mission is to provide exemplary child care services to families accessing the University. All programs are located on the Point Grey Campus. Child Care Services is an ancillary operation within the department of Student Housing and Hospitality Services at the University. The University subsidizes the operation of the service approximately $1,500.00 per child per annum.

The University’s ESPs provide financial advice to students on provincial and/or federal government programs that support students facing financial hardships such as: the Learning Disability Assessment Bursary (LDAB) and the First Citizens Fund Student Bursary for non-sponsored Aboriginal students. The University’s Access & Diversity unit provides a wide range of services and support for students with physical and/or learning disabilities, including mobility assistance, interpreting, captioning, and facilitating accommodations needed by students. Awards are also available for students with disability.

33% of Low Income Grant recipients received a bursary from the University as part of the General Bursary Program.